New Providence

Product Description

"This CD EP is eclectic and enticingly atmospheric pop. Kazumi Umeda's lead vocals are a unique blend somewhere between Joe Jackson's and Elvis Costello's. The tracks range from the bounce and thump of the upbeat opening track to the haunting, ethereal acoustic feel of 'Agnes's Mother.' It is very rare to find a musical group, such as this, that can successfully synthesize it's influences. New Prov's music is intelligent, intelligible, and sonically enthralling. Highly recommended listening." - Cake Magazine #44 New Providence is Brooklyn-based one-man-band Kazumi Umeda, although in 1995, when this eponymous debut EP was released, New Providence consisted of Kazumi and guitarist Francis Locke (G.G. Allin and the Holy Men[!]). Kazumi's background includes a degree in classical piano from the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory of Music, jazz studies at Eastman, early collaborations with avant-gardist David Shea, and being a founding member of the hardcore band Teenage Depression. The standout track, "Agnes's Mother," is a Lennon-esque balled with lyrics adapted from the script of Ingmar Bergman's eerily beautiful film Cries and Whispers. In the grandest DIY tradition, NEW PROVIDENCE was recorded at home using the Tascam 388 8-track recorder, the same model used by East River Pipe. Other New Providence titles available through CD Baby: NEAR SUMMIT (1997; "Part folky, part new-wavey experimental pop genius" - Elysium Magazine) FUNERAL BAKED MUSIC (2006, the new album! "The Japanese Andy Partridge." - Bob Green a.k.a. The Grassy Knoll)

"This CD EP is eclectic and enticingly atmospheric pop. Kazumi Umeda's lead vocals are a unique blend somewhere between Joe Jackson's and Elvis Costello's. The tracks range from the bounce and thump of the upbeat opening track to the haunting, ethereal acoustic feel of 'Agnes's Mother.' It is very rare to find a musical group, such as this, that can successfully synthesize it's influences. New Prov's music is intelligent, intelligible, and sonically enthralling. Highly recommended listening." - Cake Magazine #44 New Providence is Brooklyn-based one-man-band Kazumi Umeda, although in 1995, when this eponymous debut EP was released, New Providence consisted of Kazumi and guitarist Francis Locke (G.G. Allin and the Holy Men[!]). Kazumi's background includes a degree in classical piano from the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory of Music, jazz studies at Eastman, early collaborations with avant-gardist David Shea, and being a founding member of the hardcore band Teenage Depression. The standout track, "Agnes's Mother," is a Lennon-esque balled with lyrics adapted from the script of Ingmar Bergman's eerily beautiful film Cries and Whispers. In the grandest DIY tradition, NEW PROVIDENCE was recorded at home using the Tascam 388 8-track recorder, the same model used by East River Pipe. Other New Providence titles available through CD Baby: NEAR SUMMIT (1997; "Part folky, part new-wavey experimental pop genius" - Elysium Magazine) FUNERAL BAKED MUSIC (2006, the new album! "The Japanese Andy Partridge." - Bob Green a.k.a. The Grassy Knoll)